2009 Mercedes SLK280, SLK350, and SLK55 AMG

Look closely for the changes on this one.

Debuting in Detroit is Mercedes' 2009 SLK-class. Don't get too worked up; this is merely a midcycle refresh that might only be recognized by Benz worshippers and SLK owners.

The exterior changes are exceedingly minor and primarily limited to the plastic front and rear fascias. The biggest change is up front. The snout has been redesigned to look more like the McLaren Formula 1 race car. A cleft air dam mimics the front wing of the F1 car, with new headlights rounding out the changes.

On your way to the rear of the SLK, you might notice the new, larger external mirrors (we told you this was minor stuff). In back, the rear bumper is more sculpted and adds a mock diffuser with larger exhaust tips.

Inside the two-seater are new gauge faces and a new three-spoke steering wheel, and the choices of textures and colors in the dashboard have been streamlined. An updated navigation system with voice-command recognition rounds out the changes.

Fortunately, the '09 SLK receives a more serious mechanical update. Under the hood of the SLK350 is a more powerful version of the previous 3.5-liter V-6. Even though the engine doesn't get direct injection, it's compression ratio jumps to 12.2:1, the redline rises to 7200 rpm, and horsepower jumps from 268 to 300. Mercedes even claims the updated engine improves fuel economy by 10 percent. The last SLK350 we tested ran from 0 to 60 in 5.4 seconds. The additional 32 horses should knock a few 10ths off that time.

Both the SLK280 and SLK55 AMG carry over with their previous engines, a 228-hp 3.0-liter V-6 and a 355-hp 5.4-liter V-8, respectively.

Unfortunately, the only model available with a six-speed manual is the least powerful SLK280, while the SLK350's manual option is gone for 2009. Mercedes' excellent seven-speed automatic is available on the SLK280 and standard on the other two models.

Mercedes also claims it's improved the SLK's steering with an updated version of the variable-ratio steering found in the previous version. The ratio spread is achieved by unequal spacing of the teeth on the steering rack as opposed to BMW's active-steering system, which uses a sophisticated actuator system.

In Europe, a 311-hp version of the new V-6 will be available in the not-coming-to-America SL350. The 300-hp version of the V-6 will eventually make its way under the hoods of the E350, CLK350, C350, R350, and ML350 in the next couple of years.